Once again I was away from home with time on my hands. I decided to sit at an open air bar and read a newspaper. Having looked at the various headlines on offer I felt it was too nice a day to be spoilt with negative story-lines and bad news.
So I sat at a table nursing a long cool drink and looked inside my attaché-case for something to read. There I found an old copy of “Prison to Praise” by Merlin R Carothers. I must have read it several times. So I took it out for a quick read.
It’s one of a series of Praise books by the same author, in which he teaches we should praise God at all times, even when times are bad and things go wrong. Worth a read!
I was still reading when the waitress came to take my lunch order.
So I sat there with nothing much to do – and I was good at doing it too.
The restaurant was busy and the service very slow – but no matter, I had time on my hands and it helped me contemplate about the past, the present, and what may happen to me in the future too. Hopefully with God at my side.
Eventually, the waitress asked me: Have you had your dessert sir?
Actually, no.
What was it you ordered?
Well … it was so long ago I really can’t remember.
She smiled and said she’ll check and bring it to me straight-away.
Moments later she brought me something which I’m certain I didn’t order.
I looked at the menu and it was described as: A freshly baked waffle covered in maple syrup and fruits of the wood and garnished with a raspberry coulis.
I’m sure I never ordered that! I’m far too unsophisticated to know what a coulis is.
I checked my pocket dictionary and it said: A thick sauce made of puréed fruit or vegetables.
Oh well, I thought. This isn’t the safe vanilla ice-cream I normally settle for. Let’s try it anyway. After all, the waitress has hurried away to serve someone else.
It was delicious I tell you. Exceeded expectations.
Which brings me to another thought.
Sometimes, like this waitress, God answers our prayers by serving us something we never expected and far better than what we asked for.
So there you have it. A longer than usual Blog with a book recommendation; and a reminder that sometimes God’s answers to prayers exceed expectations.
P.S.
You will note that I recommended a Merlin Carothers book. I am far too polite to suggest you read any of my own books.
I’ve read them several times. I’m sure you’ll like them too!
Dearest Victor,
ReplyDeleteWell, as I could not sleep, I am surprised to read a very nice post here! Indeed a happy story!
Hugs,
Mariette
Thank you so much, Mariette for visiting me. I am praying for you right now that all is well with you and Pieter.
DeleteGod bless always my friend.
💞
DeleteTalking of books...your book..'As l Quote Myself'
ReplyDeletearrived last Friday afternoon..Victor..!
My daughter had ordered it for me, well, my
son~in~law actually, as he's got Amazon Prime,
so he gets free P&P....
I opened the package, in the kitchen, and opened
up the book..by the time l turned round l was on
page 28..
HeHe! :). Most enjoyable...I'm on page 53 at the mo..!
I certainly relate to your writing Victor...! :).
I rarely eat a sweet, l'm very much a savories person,
l enjoy cold meats, salami, cheese, olives etc..with
a nice vintage port, after a dinner party that is..and,
my dinner parties do go on a bit..Sicilian style..!
Well, best get on..Richard has just seen to my PC,
via Teamviewer...Downloads, Uploads, and Sideloads! :).
And l've three lovely fresh mackeral for Sunday lunch,
all garnished and ready for the oven a bit later...!
'Nofin' like a fresh mackeral...I'll enjoy them sat out on
the patio a little later..! With a little liquid refreshment!..!
🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟
Oh thank you so much for buying "As I Quote Myself". I am so pleased you liked it. You're a great supporter of my writings. Thank you.
DeleteI certainly do like Italian antipasti with various sausage meats and olives. Especially mortadella. And cheeses like ricotta and parmesan.
Enjoy your Sunday mackerel lunch, mu friend. With a good glass of vino rosso. I liked the Chianti that comes in an oval shaped bottle covered in straw. The empty bottle was used to hold a candle at the dinner table for a romantic meal. But this has stopped now because of global warming. Lit candles at tables, and on birthday cakes and so on are the cause of global warming.
God bless.
HaHa! You English with yer candles stuck in
Deletebottles...everyone had them once..we/l always
bought Chianti..especially Chianti Ruffino and
Lidl supermarket stock Chianti at Christmas
time, not Ruffino, but any other brand name,
sells at £9:99..
Another good buy at Lidl is Corte Aurelio, Nero,
Sicilia..Sicilian table wine, £4:99 a bottle, at
Christmas the larger bottle..litre and a half at
£9:99..
This wine belongs to my family..my family own
a vineyard in Sicily, and like other vineyards
they became part of a cooperative, as it was
easier to grow and sell the wine as a grope
rather than individually..!
I would 'NEVER' burn a candle in my home!
The fire brigade have enough to do without
me starting fires..! God Bless Them....!
I agree about your comment about candles in bottles. We don't use candles at home. In a church I know they have electric candles in front of the statues. You place a coin in the box and a candle is automatically lit for a few minutes.
DeleteI told the priest this is modern automation gone too far. Whatever next? Confessions via e-mail on the Internet?
He hit me on the head with his Kindle tablet which said, "Three Hail Maries for your penance!"
God bless.
HaHa! Only three....??? :O)
Delete...I have trouble trying something new!
ReplyDeleteSame with me. My wife says I should now change my socks and underwear!
DeleteGod bless, Tom.
I like trying new desserts. :)
ReplyDeleteGod certainly is amazing and so very good to us!!!
Yes indeed, He is so.
DeleteGod bless, Happyone.
A good read with a great point. Now to be true, I never read Carother's, At home that is a Funeral Home. I might check out this Carothers and even the Moubarak guy from a foreign place. ;-) Be safe...
ReplyDeleteHi Jack,
DeleteA former US army chaplain, Rev. Merlin R. Carothers is a Methodist minister and popular inspirational speaker on the Charismatic Christian speaking circuit. His best-selling first book, Prison to Praise (1971), is an autobiographical account of his dramatic salvation. The book has been translated in many languages.
In it, he teaches that we should praise God in all eventualities; even when things go wrong in our lives. We are praising God because He is still, and always is, in control of every situation and will turn it to the good for us and for others.
Moubarak, however, is a minor writer of Christian and humourous books. His books sell amongst his family and friends. Also, amongst him himself who purchases most of them. He says he will read them sometime when he has time to waste/spare.
God bless.
It's good to try out something new ...
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday Wishes.
All the best Jan
Yes, I agree, Jan. Best wishes. God bless.
DeleteI'm going to see if our library system doesn't have any of Carothers' books! I suppose it's human nature to resist change -- what if I spend good money on that flavor and find I don't like it? What a blessing to remember God's never let me down.
ReplyDeleteHis first book, "Prison to Praise" is worth reading. He found God whilst in prison.
DeleteGod bless you, Mevely.
It's been many years since i've read that book, i'll have to see if i still have a copy.
ReplyDeleteYes, our Lord knows what we need and gives it, and often it's much better than what we would or could have asked for ourselves.
Agreed, I 'll have to read the book again sometimes.
DeleteGod bless you always, Mimi.
Hi Victor, sometimes we definitely get more than we ask for.
ReplyDeleteThat is certainly true, Brenda. God bless.
Delete